The Jets got a dose of reality after being blown out on Thursday Night Football by the red-hot Baltimore Ravens.
Now 5-9 on the season and with two games left to play, the Jets moved down another two spots in the latest edition of USA TODAY’s NFL power rankings.
New York moved down from No. 21 to No. 23 in the power rankings after losing to the Ravens, 42-21. The Jets could not do the unthinkable and pull off an upset on primetime football.
Baltimore’s No. 1 rushing offense punched the Jets’ No. 2 rushing defense in the mouth. The Ravens ran for 218 yards on 34 carries, adding a score with a Mark Ingram rushing touchdown.
The unstoppable force that is Lamar Jackson threw for five touchdowns, completing 15 of 23 passes for 213 yards. The clear-cut MVP helped his team clinch the AFC North division title with its 12th win of the season.
The Jets didn’t get blown out in the first half, but merely didn’t take advantage of opportunities in the red zone. Gang Green exposed blemishes in Baltimore’s defense and special teams, but they weren’t enough to make a dent.
As for the rest of the AFC East, the 10-4 Bills moved up one spot to No. 10 after knocking off the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. The Dolphins dropped two spots to No. 29 after losing to the Eli Manning-led Giants. The Patriots stayed at No. 9 after beating the Bengals, but it wasn’t without controversy.
Rounding out the top five are the Ravens at No. 1, the Saints at No. 2, the Seahawks at No. 3, the 49ers at No. 4 and the Chiefs at No. 5.